US Open draw | Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal semi-final a possibility
World No.1 Rafael Nadal could battle it out against his formidable foe Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the US Open according to the draw unveiled on Friday. Nadal will start his campaign against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic while Federer will take on American Frances Tiafoe in the opening round.
The last Grand Slam of the year will commence on August 28th and promises to be a cracker of a tournament for the fans who will be treated to the talents and skills of Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and the in-form Roger Federer on the hard court of the Flushing Meadows. The tournament will be all the more special as the fans are anticipating to see Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal against each other in the semi-finals of the competition. This is very likely given their draws.
Nadal and Federer have already faced each other twice this year. Federer has a hundred percent win record this season, defeating Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open and Miami Open. However, Nadal holds the edge over the Swiss with an overall record of 23-14. Both the players have been in scintillating form this year. While Nadal won his record tenth French Open title, Federer bagged Australian Open and Wimbledon to become the all-time highest Grand Slam winner with 19 titles
Nadal will begin his title quest against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic and is expected to face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the third round. Nadal has a hundred percent win record against Gasquet in all the 15 matches the two have played against each other. The 31-year old may have to overcome Czech's Tomas Berdych in the fourth round and Bulgarian seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals before facing Federer in the semis.
On the other hand, Federer will kick off his campaign against Frances Tiafoe and could come face to face against the mercurial Aussie, Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round, who recently stunned Nadal to bag the Cincinnati Open. Federer is likely to face French Open semi-finalist Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals of the hard-court Grand Slam.Â
Former World No.1 Andy Murray plays American Tennys Sandgren in his first match with 16th seed Lucas Pouille of France a likely opponent in the round of 16. The Briton will probably be facing another Frenchman in eighth seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals who, in turn, is scheduled to commence his campaign against Romanian Marius Copil.
Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic are also possible last-eight opponents for Murray. Zverev will be pitted against a qualifier in his opening match while Cilic will play Gilles Simon of France. South African Kevin Anderson and US 13th seed Jack Sock are the German's potential round three and four opponents.
Cilic could meet a formidable foe in 10th seed John Isner in the last 16. Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 US Open winner, is Thiem's likely opponent in the fourth round.
The US Open will be missing some of the star players in reigning champion Stan Wawrinka, two-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic, Japan's Kei Nishikori and Canadian Milos Raonic.Â
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